掌握 (zhǎngwò) is a transitive verb meaning 'to master' or 'to grasp thoroughly' — especially knowledge, skills, methods, or situations. Literally, 掌 means 'palm' and 握 means 'to grip or hold', so together they evoke the image of firmly holding something in one’s hand — symbolizing full control and deep understanding. It implies more than basic familiarity; it suggests confident, practical command.

This word is commonly used in academic, professional, and technical contexts — for example, mastering a language, grasping complex concepts, or gaining control over a process or situation. It often appears with objects like 知识 (knowledge), 技能 (skills), 方法 (methods), or 规律 (rules/principles). While it can occasionally refer to controlling physical things (e.g., resources or territory), its primary use is abstract — about internalized competence rather than physical possession.